Woodlawn native goes to the ‘danger zone’ with Navy squadron

Birmingham native and 1989 Woodlawn High School graduate Deloris Andrews is now part of the team behind the U.S. Navy’s famous TOPGUN aerial combat program.

Andrews is currently serving as a personnel specialist with Fighter Composite Squadron 13, a fighter squadron that provides adversarial training for the TOPGUN program at Naval Air Station (NAS) in Fallon, Nevada, according to a release by the Navy Office of Community Outreach.

TOPGUN teaches the top 1% of Navy pilots air combat and enemy tactics, among other skills. The program gained its notoriety from the popular 1986 film of the same name starring Tom Cruise.

“Birmingham taught me to trust in God and to not go away from my beliefs,” Andrews said . “A lot of the experience you have in the Navy will take you away from your upbringing and beliefs if you let it.”

The TOPGUN program was introduced 52 years ago to reduce fighter pilot deaths during the Vietnam War, according to the Navy Office of Community Outreach. Within a year of its creation, the Navy only suffered one casualty for every 12 enemies killed in action.

NAS Fallon provides support to aircraft carriers prior to deployment as well as giving pilots the ability to train in realistic combat scenarios. The air base features four bombing ranges and an electronic warfare range, among other facilities, according to the Navy Office of Community Outreach.

NAS Fallon also supports aircraft carrier missions around the world.

“Serving in the Navy means giving back,” Andrews said in the release.  “Giving back to a country that gave so much to me.”